unlike the rest

eighteen

Josi and Griffin entered through the main entrance, only to see 3 people standing there with ginormous smiles.

Katie and Sophia stood on either side on Avery, as Sophia kept an arm behind her back encase she felt unstable. But Avery was actually standing. And on her own. Griffins eyes widened, surprised at her recovery rate. The silence however turned into laughs as they all tackled the two into a group hug.

"We missed you guys!" Katie smiled excitedly as Josi and Sophia playfully ruffed each other up.

"Y-you're able to stand an wa-walk around?" Griffin asked Avery, quite estonished.

Avery grinned as she nodded. "Mhm! And I actually feel great, but that also reminds me.. us three had a question for you." She gently rubbed the back of her shoulder as the other two glanced at each other. "Can we go out and into the city again? We haven't had a 'day off' in so long. It would be nice to not have a day filled with fighting, and I was thinking we could go to Buffalo Wild Wings again for 'nostalgia." 

Griffin frowned and shook his head. "I'm sorry, but I think it's too dangerous."

 The man's words haunted his thoughts.

--sry i took a nate vlog break ;)--

"Come on now, please Griffin. We haven't had a chill day in what seems like forever. Just one day." Josi bumped his shoulder, tilting her head.

"Ughh." He mumbled as he shook his head in his palm. 

"Please, we all could use a break." Katie tugged on the edge of his shirt, looking up at him with pleading eyes.

"I second that, please Griffin." Avery said as she intertwined her fingers with his, gently squeezing his hand.

Griffin sighed as he closed his eyes. He took a minute before deciding to nod. "I guess so.."

"Yay, thank you!" The group cheered in unison as they shared smiles. Griffin nodded again with an uneasy smile as he glanced away.

"So, where are we headed? Josi asked and Katie replied in a shrug.

"Oo, we could go to the local park!" Sophia chimed in. Josi was unsure at first but a second look from her was convincing enough.

"Sounds good with me. Griffin, Avery, Katie? You guys all cool with that?" Josi asked again, noticing Avery had been resting her head on Griffin's shoulder.

"I'm down." Avery said smiling as the other two nodded along in agreement. Sophia began to take the lead to the park.

They eventually made it and immediately Sophia and Josi began to chase each other around the playground. Katie had been working her way up the monkey-bars, trying to sit on top. But Griffin and Avery stayed behind, walking with each other to a bench under the shade.

"You don't want to go play with them?" Griffin questioned, his voice laced with a bit of tease.

Avery scoffed and playfully punched his arm. "I'd rather just have a bit of me and you time. And plus I wanted to check up on how you were feeling."

"I'm fine." He glanced away, staring at his shoes.

"Mm, I've just noticed that you have been awfully hesitant and quiet lately.." Avery had always been able to see through his attempts to 'mask' his feelings. Griffin had a love-hate relationship with this feature.

"My thoughts have just been somewhere else every since I killed him.. I've just been receiving non-stop flashbacks." He softly sighed as he closed his eyes. Avery rested her head onto his shoulder again, reaching her arm across his body and hugging onto his opposite shoulder at the same time.